BC Tripathy

Professor Baishnab Charan Tripathy was appointed as the new vice-chancellor of Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, on Saturday. Tripathy, a professor in the School of Life Sciences at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), will replace Devdas Chhotray to become the second VC of this prestigious Odisha university. He spoke to The Telegraph about coming back to Odisha and his vision for the 100-year-old institution.

Congratulations on becoming the new vice-chancellor of Ravenshaw. How does it feel coming back to Odisha after almost 25 years?

I am glad as well as excited to be back. But becoming the VC also means that I would lose my academic assignments for three years.

How was your experience at JNU?

I consider myself to be very lucky to have been a part of JNU. I love everything about it – the academic atmosphere, the opportunities it provides and the freedom it gives you to do your own things. I would like to follow the JNU model for administration of Ravenshaw. However, I don’t know if I would be successful. It would depend on how the students and the teaching and non-teaching staff cooperate with me. Students are free to do whatever they like, but they should know their limits.

Tell us about your journey from a lecturer in Paralakhemundi and Khallikote colleges to the VC of Ravenshaw.

It has been a roller coaster ride. I hail from a nondescript village near Asureswar in Cuttack and have worked very hard to be where I am today. I am a self-made person. It was not quite a smooth journey.

You were also involved in research activities at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) from 1993-95 and 2002-05.

At Nasa, I was part of a team researching on how to build a life support system for humans in space and grow plants in zero gravity conditions.

You were also a student of Ravenshaw. What is your image of the university now?

I joined Ravenshaw for my undergraduate course in 1967. Those were the golden days. I have heard that things are not the same anymore. Many teachers have retired and there have not been fresh appointments. This has created a void in research activities. There has been a gradual decline in the educational standard, but Ravenshaw cannot be singled out. It is true for all universities of Odisha.

As the VC, what would be your top priority?

I plan to revive the courses of studies as per the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC), to strengthen the existing infrastructure, and to set up various schools in life sciences, geophysics, computer sciences, space and tourism, law and governance, women empowerment, planning and architecture, and creative and performing arts.

Ravenshaw went through a rough phase during the last one year due to student unrest over allotment of the East Hostel to girls and the clash between Afghan and local students. How plan to revive its glory?

Like JNU students, I would like the students of Ravenshaw to be independent-minded and not wait for the teachers’ instructions. A student must be patient and accept the opinions of people. But ultimately, they should chalk out their own methods of achieving things. Whatever they do, they must not adopt violent means. Ravenshaw must be an eve-teasing-free zone. We need to sit down with the Afghan students and sort out their issues. In JNU, girls move around on the campus even at 2 in the night and here too, I want everyone to feel safe and have all kinds of freedom. A university stands for truth, tolerance and humanity.

Ravenshaw is the only university which has been able to attract foreign students. Would you try for more foreign collaborative projects?

I would surely encourage teachers to go for collaborative research programmes in various fields so that we can get more grants, including grants from abroad. My focus would be on teacher and student exchange programmes. I hope the state government would help us in this regard so that eminent speakers from across the country and abroad can visit our university.

What are your views about students’ politics?

If I have my way then I would let students and teachers have their own elections. The university should not be a part of it and I, personally, do not want to be involved either. But, I don’t know how matured the students are.

The share of Odia students qualifying the all-India competitive exams such as the UPSC has considerably reduced.

Yes. For example, hundreds of students used to qualify for JNU entrance test but now it has come down to 10 or 20, most of whom belong to reserved categories. The standard of education in Odisha has gone down, both in humanities and science. It is a challenging task to improve the scenario.

When are you joining Ravenshaw?

I have not yet got the official letter. It would probably come in two days. It will take some time for me to be relieved of my duty at JNU, settle research grants and so on. I would try my best to catapult Ravenshaw to the national league. But, I cannot do that alone and would need cooperation from the Odisha government, the UGC, the local administration and the media.

What are your expectations? What would you tell students on Day One?

I don’t have high hopes. I would ask students to study hard and achieve their goals. Most importantly, they must think independently because what the teachers say today may not be relevant tomorrow.